Electric switch



0. L. PERRY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 21.

i invntor: Charles L.Perry,

His Attorney,

Patented Dotw 21, 1924.

CHARLES L. PERRY, OF SCHENEGTADY, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIO COMPANYZ A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

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Application filed January 21, 1921. Serial No. 438,993.

To all whOm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to electric switches and in particular. to improvements in the contact mechanism' thereof.

Although not necessarily limited thereto, my invention has a particular application to electric switchesradapted to make and break circuits carrying heavy current.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide improved self-aligning contact mechanism which shall always offer a large and uniform bearing surface for the coin tacts.

In carrying my invention into effect in one form, I hold one of the contacts resiliently in position in a supportjin such a manner that the contacts may freely align themselves and a spring pressure is set up between the contacts intheir closed position.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference ishad tothe'accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of my invention for purposes of illustration, and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of an electromagnetic switch in the closedposition; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail of the main switch contacts in the closed position; Fig. .3 is a perspective view of the support in which one of the contacts is mounted; and Fig. 4 is a perspective, view of the contact which cooperates with the support shown in Fig. 3. Y

v Referring 'to the. drawings, the switch mechanism is mounted upon an insulating base 10 and the switch is operated by means of an operating electromagnetll having an armature 12 pivotally mounted at 13 and connected to theswitch contact 14, one of the two relatively movable engaging main contacts of the switch which have substantially fiat engaging surfaces. This contact 14 is adapted to make engagement with the main contact 15 which is positioned in what amounts to a three-point support; This support comprises the upper hinge support 16, the stop 17, and the spring 18 which is positioned between the upper hinge support and the stop substantially opposite the midposition of the engaging surfaces of the main contacts so as to press on the contact at right angles to the plane of engagement of the contacts. The upper hinge support, comprising the shaft 19 which serves as the pintle of the hinge construction, and

the U-shaped member 20 which has an ex ranged so that the movement of the contact 15 toward the contact 14 is limited in the "member 20 of the hinge construction is aropenposition of the switch and when the switch closes, the contact,15 is permitted to ;move along the line of movement of the contacts against the pressure of the spring 18.

The contact 15 is permitted to tilt in alldirections with the spring support as the fulcrum of the tilting movement. I The contact 15 is connectedto the 'main" switch terminal 22 by means; of the flexible conductor 23, and the main contact 14 isconvnected to the switch terminal 24 by means of the flexible conductor 25.

The auxiliary switch contact 26 is pivotally mounted with respect to the main contact 14 at 27, andis resiliently held in position by means of the spring 28 which cooperates with the bolt-29 secured to the arm 30 connected to the main contact 14. The auxiliary or-arcing contact 26 is adapted to make engagement with the stationary contact 31 which is vconnected to a blowout coil 32. The auxiliaryor arcing contact 26 is connected to the main switch terminal 24 bymeans of the flexible conductor 33. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the construction ofthe switch contacts is such that auxiliary or arcing con- .tacts 26 and 31 first make engagement when the switch is being closed, and finally the main contacts 14 and 15 make engagement,

andthat in the opening of theswitch the opened subsequently bythe opening of the arcing contacts 26'and 31. The arcs formed upon the'interruption of the electric circuit are disruptedby being magnetically blown through the arc chute 34.

{main contacts 14'and 15 first open and the electric circuit controlled by the switch is As thus-constructed and arranged, the op eration of my invention is as follows :As sume that the switch is in the open position at which the main contacts l i and ,15 are out of engagement and the arcing contacts 26 and 31 are also out of engagement. The armature 12 will be attracted by the core of the operating electromagnet 11 and turn the switch contacts ll .and 26 counter-clockwise until the arcing contacts 26 and 31 make engagement. The completion ofthe movement of the armature 12 to the attracted position will cause the main contact -1-l 'to make engagement with :the main contact 15. The main contact '15 willibemoved in the line-of movement of the main contact 14 and in case the engaging surfaces of the contactsare not in exact alignment when the main contacts fiirst make engagement, the contact 15 will 'be permitted to tilt with re spcct to the hinge support 16 about the spring 18 as fulcrum point so :as :to accurately align the main contacts and at the same time to set up a spring pressure between the contacts. By reason of the fact that the main contacts 1 1 and 15 are completely self-aligning, burning, heating and unequal wear ofthe-contacts are prevented.

When the electromagnet 11 is deenergized, the armature 12 will be released and will be permitted to rotate clockwise so as to carry the main cont-act ltand the auxiliary cont-act 26 out of engagement with their respectivecooperating contacts. The pres sure of the spring '18 will be partially relieved and the main contact 15 will return to its original position and be held against the pintle 19 and the bar 35 which cooperates with the stop 17.

It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art from the-above description of my invention that my invention has features of simplicity of construction and arrangement and is nevertheless efiective in operation.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 "have described the principle of operationof my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,

but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

the tilting thereof and the movement thereof with respect to the support along the line of movement of-the contacts, and a spring put under strain by the closing of the switch and adapted to press on the said contact at a substantially mid-position of the engaging surfaces of "thecontacts for biasing the tilting of the contact for accurately aligning the engaging surfaces of the contacts, "a :stop cooperating with the support for positloning the said contact, and a spring between the said support and stop for holding the said contact-against the sup-port and stop in the open position of the switch and adapted to be put under strain by the closing of the switch.

In an electric switch, Jitwo relatively movable engaging switch contacts, a support for one of the contacts, a stop cooperating with the support for positioning the said contact, a spring betweenthesaid support and stop for holding thesaid contact against the support and stop in the open position of the switch and adapted to be put under strain by the closing of the switch, the said support and stop arranged to permit themovementof the said contact along' the line of movement of the contacts and the tilting of the said contact about the spring as a fulcrum for accurately aligning the engaging surfaces of the contacts.

4:. In an electric switch, two relatively movable engaging switch contact-s, an upper support for'one of-the contacts, a lower support for the same, a spring between the supports for holding the said contact against its supports and adapted to be put under strain by the closing of the switch,the said supports arranged to limit the movement of the said contact toward the other contact and permit the movement of the saidcontactalong the line of movement of thecontacts and the tilting of the said contactabout the spring as a fulcrum for accurately aligning the engaging surfaces of the contacts.

5. In an electric switch, two relatively movable engag ng switch contacts, three aligned supports for supporting one of the contacts, the said supports arranged to limit the movement of the contact toward the other contact and permit the tilting of the contact and the movement thereof in the line of movementof the contacts, and a. spring serving as the middle of the three supports interposed back of a substantial mid-position of the engaging surfaces of the contacts and adapted Ito be put under strain by the engagement of the contacts, whereby the contact is resiliently held in position and is permitted to fulcrum about the spring to align itself with the other contact.

6.111 an electric switch two movable switch contacts having substantially flat engaging surfaces, the first of which is pivota]1y mounted and movable into engaging reiation with the second of said contacts, a hinge support for the second of the contacts arranged to permit the movement of the second contact along the line of movement of the cont-acts and the tilting of the second contact about the support for accurately aligning the engaging surfaces of the contacts, a stop cooperating with the said support for positioning the second contact, and V and adapted to be put under strain by the closing of the switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of January 1921.

CHARLES L. PERRY. 

